An all-round performance by Bas De Leede guided Netherlands to a seven-wicket win over Namibia in the ICC T20 World Cup in New Delhi on Tuesday.
After chipping in with two wickets to restrict Namibia to 156/8, De Leede led the Dutch chase with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls. It was the first win for the Netherlands at the T20 World Cup 2026.
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards won the toss and chose to field against Namibia on Tuesday. It was a good toss to win on a sluggish wicket, and the Netherlands made the most of it with a clinical performance with the ball.
With Aryan Dutt giving Netherlands the breakthrough they kept a check on scoring in powerplay, conceding only 40 runs in the first six overs. A 50-run partnership for the second wicket between Jan Frylinck (30) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (42) helped Namibia steady the ship.
Despite losing Logan Van beek, Namibia took the attack to the Dutch bowlers. With Gerhard Erasmus and Loftie-Eaton at the crease, Namibia stepped on the accelerator after the halfway mark, scoring 29 runs in two overs. However, Netherlands stuck back with the wicket of Gerhard Erasmus, who hit two fours and a six for a quickfire 18.
Two overs later, the dangerous Loftie-Eaton fell trying another big hit off Van Beek. The Namibian batter impressed with breezy innings of 42 off 38 balls, while the experienced JJ Smit chipped in with 22. Though they lost quick wickets in the second half, a smattering of big hits kept Namibian score ticking and they pushed past 150.
While Dutt provided the breakthrough, Van Beek and Bas De Leede were the most successful bowlers for Netherlands on Tuesday, claiming two wickets each.
In response, Netherlands made a strong start, scoring 50 in the powerplay, but they lost two big wickets in the first six overs. While Bernard Scholtz dismissed Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt fell in the final over of powerplay as he looked to press the advantage. The big-hitting Levitt hit three sixes and a four but miscued a shot off Ruben Trumpelmann to depart for a15-ball 28.
Bas De Leede and Colin Ackermann (32) took on the reigns and guided their team to relative safety with a 70-run stand. De Leede, who struck a six to bring up the 100 for Netherlands in the 13th over, carried the team past the finish line with a superb half-century. He made batting look easy on a tricky pitch, slamming five fours and four sixes as Netherlands finished at 159/3 in 18 overs.
“I think we were lucky to bowl first; it gave us a good look at the wicket, and I thought we adjusted really well as a bowling group. Later in the game, I felt the pitch started skidding on a bit, so credit to the batters for adapting to that as well,” said Bas de Leede.
Brief scores: Namibia 156/8 in 20 overs (Jan Frylinck 30, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton 42, JJ Smit 22; Logan van Beek 2/13, Bas de Leede 2/20) lost to Netherlands 159/3 in 18 overs (Michael Levitt 28, Bas de Leede 72 not out, Colin Ackermann 32).
